Image forming apparatus for synthetic resin sheets

Abstract

An image forming apparatus including an image carrier for forming a toner image thereon. A conveyor conveys a synthetic resin sheet. An image transferring device transfers the toner image from the image carrier to the synthetic resin sheet being conveyed by the conveyor. A fixing device is located downstream of the image carrier in a direction of sheet conveyance for fixing the toner image transferred to the synthetic resin sheet. The fixing device includes a heat roller capable of contacting the synthetic resin sheet. The heat roller is freely rotatable and caused to rotate by the synthetic resin sheet being conveyed by the conveyor when the sheet contacts the heat roller.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An image forming apparatus comprising: 
       means for conveying a synthetic resin sheet, including a resin sheet holding mechanism;  
       means for forming an image on a surface of the synthetic resin sheet, which is being conveyed by said conveying means, with toner; and  
       means for fixing the toner on the synthetic resin sheet being conveyed by said conveying means with heat, said means for fixing including a fixing member whose surface is endlessly movable;  
       wherein the surface of the synthetic resin sheet and the surface of said fixing member contact each other over a preselected width in a direction of sheet conveyance.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said fixing member comprises a heat roller having an elastic surface. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising pressing means for exerting pressure for fixation between the synthetic resin sheet and said heat roller. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said heat roller is rotatable at a fixed position inside a body of said apparatus; and 
       wherein said conveying means includes an elastic body.  
     
     
       5. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said elastic body elastically supports the synthetic resin sheet such that the surface of said synthetic resin sheet is elastically displaceable relative to the surface of said heat roller, and such that in an unstressed condition said surface of said synthetic resin sheet is positioned at a side where an axis of said heat roller is positioned with respect to said surface of said heat roller. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said conveying means comprises a support member supporting said elastic body that, in turn, holds the synthetic resin sheet; and 
       wherein in an unstressed condition said elastic body is at least partly positioned at said side while said support member is positioned at a side opposite to said side.  
     
     
       7. In an image forming apparatus including a fixing member whose surface is endlessly movable and causing a synthetic resin sheet, which is a data recording medium and being conveyed at a same speed and in a same direction as a surface of said fixing member, to contact said surface of said fixing member to thereby fix a toner image formed on said synthetic resin sheet, said surface of said fixing member has a dimension in a direction of endless movement that is equal to or greater than a dimension of said synthetic resin sheet in a direction of sheet conveyance. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the dimension of the surface of said fixing member is equal to or smaller than the dimension of the synthetic resin sheet plus 30 mm. 
     
     
       9. An image forming apparatus comprising: 
       conveying means for conveying a synthetic resin sheet, which is a data recording medium;  
       image forming means for forming a toner image on a surface of the synthetic resin sheet being conveyed by said conveying means; and  
       fixing means including a fixing member whose surface is endlessly movable and causing the synthetic resin sheet, which is being conveyed at a same speed and in a same direction as a surface of said fixing member, to contact said surface of said fixing member to thereby fix the toner image formed on said synthetic resin sheet;  
       wherein the surface of said fixing member has a dimension in a direction of endless movement that is equal to or greater than a dimension of said synthetic resin sheet in a direction of sheet conveyance.  
     
     
       10. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the dimension of the surface of said fixing member is equal to or smaller than the dimension of the synthetic resin sheet plus 30 mm. 
     
     
       11. An image forming apparatus comprising: 
       an image carrier configured to form a toner image thereon;  
       a conveyor constructed to convey a synthetic resin sheet;  
       an image transferring device configured to transfer the toner image from the image carrier to the synthetic resin sheet being conveyed by the conveyor; and  
       a fixing device located downstream of said image carrier in a direction of sheet conveyance and configured to fix the toner image transferred to the synthetic resin sheet, said fixing device including a heat roller capable of contacting said synthetic resin sheet;  
       wherein said heat roller is freely rotatable and caused to rotate by the synthetic resin sheet being conveyed by said conveyor when said synthetic resin sheet contacts said heat roller.  
     
     
       12. An image forming apparatus comprising: 
       a conveyor having a synthetic resin sheet holding mechanism and constructed to convey a synthetic resin sheet;  
       an image forming section constructed to form an image on a surface of the synthetic resin sheet, which is being conveyed by said conveyor, with toner; and  
       a fixing device including a fixing member, whose surface is endlessly movable, and configured to fix the toner on the sheet being conveyed by said conveyor with heat;  
       wherein the surface of the synthetic resin sheet and the surface of said fixing member contact each other over a preselected width in a direction of sheet conveyance.  
     
     
       13. An image forming apparatus comprising: 
       a conveyor constructed to convey a synthetic resin sheet, which is a data recording medium;  
       an image forming section constructed to form a toner image on a surface of the synthetic resin sheet being conveyed by said conveyor; and  
       a fixing device including a fixing member whose surface is endlessly movable and constructed to cause the synthetic resin sheet, which is being conveyed at a same speed and in a same direction as a surface of said fixing member, to contact said surface of said fixing member to thereby fix the toner image formed on said synthetic resin sheet;  
       wherein the surface of said fixing member has a dimension in a direction of endless movement that is equal to or greater than a dimension of said synthetic resin sheet in a direction of sheet conveyance.